THREE times as many Scots secured a Scottish university place through the higher education clearing system last year compared with students from the rest of the UK, new figures show.

The Scottish Government highlighted the statistics after accusations that clearing - which matches free university places with students - favours fee-paying students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

In fact, comparable figures from 2012 show about 1400 Scots were accepted to Scottish universities through clearing, compared with 400 from the rest of the UK. The Scottish Government argues figures are likely to be similar this year.

Despite this, competition for places at universities remains extremely tough for Scottish pupils who failed to secure an offer after their exam results.

As The Herald reported yesterday, Scottish universities are currently advertising vacancies on more than 500 courses, but some are reserved for students from poorer backgrounds or are courses for graduates.

There are hundreds more vacancies for fee-paying students from the rest of the UK (rUK) and overseas because they are recruited under a separate system. For example, at Glasgow University there are just five courses for Scottish students, but 591 for rUK students.

Angela Constance, Minister for Youth Employment, said: "Some Scots are still looking for a place, but these statistics show more of our young people will continue to be accepted. We have funded more university places than last year and the evidence shows it is highly likely the majority of Scottish students will be able to find a university place."

However, one Glasgow parent said the system should be reformed. Osteopath Daniel Gerber, whose 16-year-old daughter Rebecca went to St Ninian's in East Renfrewshire and secured six As at Higher and two As and a B at Advanced Higher, said she could not find a place to study anatomy or pharmacy after missing out on her first choice of medicine.

"There are places available in Scottish clearing, but they are not suitable subjects for her," he said.

"There should be flexibility to give places to well-qualified candidates who want to do courses that are oversubscribed, rather than empty courses that are unpopular."

Confusion over the system is caused by the fact students from Scotland have their fees paid for them by the taxpayer, while rUK applicants now pay fees of up to £9000.

As a result, students are recruited through clearing in a twin-track process - one for publicly funded students and one for those paying fees.

There is an upper limit on the overall number of funded Scottish places, but no limits on fee-paying students.

However, that does not mean Scottish students are at a disadvantage because more Scots than ever before have already got into university for 2013 - some 22,770 - while numbers of rUK students are still relatively low.

Alastair Sim, director of Universities Scotland, which represents university principals, said: "Hundreds of new places have been created and we'd urge students and parents not to be put off by reports there are more places for rUK students."

Gordon Maloney, president of NUS Scotland, added: "When Scottish student numbers are going up, no-one can argue Scottish students are losing out.

"We'd prefer it if universities were able to go into clearing for all, but we've seen record numbers of Scottish students accepted to Scottish universities."